Eyüpspor vs Gaziantep FK

"The Matchday 2 clash of the 2026-27 Trendyol Süper Lig season brings together Eyüpspor and Gaziantep FK at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium in Istanbul. Both sides enter this fixture with an urgent need to claim their first three points of the campaign. Eyüpspor, under the tactical guidance of Özhan Pulat, suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat away to Beşiktaş in their opening match, where a late red card to star midfielder David Costa derailed their hopes of a comeback. On the other hand, Selçuk İnan’s Gaziantep FK showed notable resilience on Matchday 1, securing a 1-1 draw against Alanyaspor. This fixture presents a fascinating tactical battle as both managers look to fine-tune their setups early in the season. Eyüpspor will have to adapt to the forced absence of Costa, who is suspended. Pulat is expected to slot Charles-André Raux Yao into the central attacking midfield role to maintain creative fluidity behind the main striker. Eyüpspor’s tactical identity relies heavily on direct wing play, utilizing the rapid transition skills of Konrad Michalak, who has historically been a menace against Gaziantep's defensive block. When playing on their own turf in Istanbul, Eyüpspor typically dominate possession, averaging around 52% and generating a solid 1.84 expected goals (xG). Their defensive structure remains relatively robust, but they must guard against quick counters during defensive transitions. Gaziantep FK arrive with their own set of selection headaches, as midfielder Ulrich Meleke is highly doubtful after picking up a knock. This could force Arda Kızıldağ into a central defensive role, potentially disrupting the coordination of Selçuk İnan's low-block setup. Gaziantep's away form has historically been their Achilles' heel, characterized by structural vulnerabilities that lead to an average concession rate of 1.2 goals per game on the road. Offensively, they will rely on counter-attacks and set-piece opportunities, potentially introducing loan signing Sontje Hansen to inject pace on the flanks. Historically, Eyüpspor have thoroughly dominated this head-to-head matchup, winning three of the last four Süper Lig meetings, including a dominant 3-0 victory in their last encounter at home. Given Gaziantep’s defensive injuries and Eyüpspor’s motivation to bounce back from their opening-day loss, the home side enters as the distinct favorite. Expect a highly competitive first half ending in a stalemate, before Eyüpspor's superior depth and home advantage tell in the second period, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory."